An adaptation of e.e.cummings' "anyone lived in a pretty how town."
 
This eight movement piece was originally composed for a University of Wisconsin International Composition Competition. The guidelines called for works written for piano trio (piano, violin, cello) and soprano, wherein the voice was to have no text, only vocalization. Anyway, this turned out to be the winning entry. Click on the hyperlinks in the poem text for video/audio treatments
 

Here it is - strange as it is!

anyone lived in a pretty how town

(with up so floating many bells down)

spring summer autumn winter

he sang his didn't he danced his did

 

women and men (both little and small)

cared for anyone not at all

they sowed their isn't they reaped their same

sun moon stars rain

 

children guessed (but only a few

and down they forgot as up they grew

autumn winter spring summer)

that noone loved him more by more

 

when by now and tree by leaf

she laughed his joy she cried his grief

bird by snow and stir by still

anyone's any was all to her

 

someones married their everyones

laughed their cryings and did their dance

(sleep wake hope and then) they

said their nevers they slept their dream

 

stars rain sun moon

(and only the snow can begin to explain

how children are apt to forget to remember

with up so floating many bells down)

 

one day anyone died i guess

(and noone stooped to kiss his face)

busy folk buried them side by side

little by little and was by was

 

all by all and deep by deep

and more by more they dream their sleep

noone and anyone earth by april

wish by spirit and if by yes

 

 

women and men (both dong and ding)

summer autumn winter spring

reaped their sowing and went their came

sun moon stars rain